For those of you who saw my MyRSC status on Thursday last week you will have seen that I was interviewing potential graduates for our graduate scheme and I thought I might share some of my experience with you since it was my first time interviewing applicants. more...

I meant to go for a run today but I didn't go. I thought about it, I got up and then I just found a whole heap of excuses not to go. I felt guilty and kept thinking 'if I go now, I'll have time' until the time to do that came and went and I had run out of time. As I was driving into work I realised I should give myself a break. It doesn't matter; there will be other times. The same is true for your career, especially if you are job seaching. more...

We at the RSC have approximately 48,000 members worldwide and yet I know so many chemists who aren't members; they tell me they don't see the point. So, why should you bother to join a professional body? more...

I am going to have to think of something myself. I have scoured the web and there isn't anything that grabs me by the lapels and inspires me today. So, what little jewel of information/advice/guidance am I going to share with you this morning?

The mind that is anxious about future events is miserable.
Seneca

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Today's blog is more of news reel! We have some exciting things coming up at the RSC and I just wanted to share some of them with you.

Introducing RSC University Roadshows - The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is visiting UK universities to share our knowledge, contacts and experience within the chemical sciences.  Run by our publishing team this is a great opportunity to find out more about how to publish in one of our journals, find out which journals we publish or just talk to someone about working for the RSC. If you are not already a member you can sign up too!

To find out where we are going and what is coming up check out our calendar...we kick it off at Imperial College, London

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Feedback. It's a touchy subject. It is common in all areas of life and especially in your career especially if you are looking for a job or promotion or providing feedback to an employee or candidate. Whether it's waiting to hear if the employer got your application or how you did at interview or the act of giving feedback to someone else it can be a difficult time. But is honesty the best policy? more...

I am still a little bit concerned. In October I wrote the following:

I am concerned that lots of people I talk to think that there are no jobs in the Chemical Sector. Now I am not saying it’s easy or that you will be able to move without a compromise somewhere. I especially understand that you might be disillusioned with the sector at the moment, particularly if your area is making lots of redundancies; but no jobs? I think I need to look into this on your behalf and find out either way……
 
So today, thanks to a question we got through the Careers Forum I have updated my findings, leaving last year's results in brackets. http://www.teacherhit.com/ more...

A colleague has told me about this event tomorrow which some of you might be interested in attending.

Held at the Royal Institution of Great Britian the title of the lecture states:

'It's the scientists and the engineers who will ultimately develop and build the supply of clean energy we will need, the artificial organisms key to future biotech, and the robotics crucial to our growing strength in the space sector. But, young scientists are fed up with short term contracts, poor salaries and uncertain career progression. Do the 'great and the good' have their interests at heart?'

The Lecuture will be chaired by Dr Evan Harris – Director of Campaign for Evidence-based Policy and the Rt Hon David Willetts – Minster of State Minister for Universities and Science, and Dr Jenny Rohn, founder of Science is Vital, the Grassroots science campaigning group will also be on the panel.

This would be really interesting for those of you intersted in understanding what careers will look like in these fields going forward and what support is out there.


 

As I've spent the first half of the month travelling (albeit only in the UK) it got me wondering how valuable travelling and gap years now are, particularly for those thinking of going to university and now faced with large annual fees.  Is it still a valuable thing to do, and is it ever too late to take time out? more...

I'm not suggesting that you do your CV's like the ones on this website here, but I thought they were a bit of fun for a Friday afternoon!